Surface finishing assembly

ABSTRACT

A honing assembly, a sanding assembly and a turning machine for performing an operation on a workpiece. The turning machine may include a rotatable machine housing operable to rotate around the workpiece; a first attachment including a first portion engageable with and operable to remove material from a workpiece, the first attachment having a first configuration, such as a honing attachment; and a second attachment including a second portion engageable with and operable to remove material from a workpiece, the second attachment having a second configuration, such as a sanding attachment, different than the first configuration, each of the first attachment and the second attachment being selectively supportable one at a time by the machine housing to operate on a workpiece.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to co-pending U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/364,085, filed Jul. 19, 2016, the entirecontents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates to assemblies for providing a surfacefinish and, more particularly, to a honing or sanding attachmentassembly for use with portable turning machines, such as clamshelllathes or journal turning lathes.

SUMMARY

Portable turning machines, such as journal turning lathes and clamshelllathes, may be used to provide precision cuts to and for weldpreparation of workpieces like large diameter pipes and shafts (e.g.,pipes and shafts having outer diameters between 2 inches and 60 inches).These portable turning machines typically perform a machining operation,such as cutting and beveling, re-machining flanges, and/or machining theworkpiece.

After performing these machining operations, the surface finish of theworkpiece is often not desirable, typically relatively rough. Forexample, such machining results in a workpiece with a surface finishwith an average surface roughness (i.e., Ra value) between 80 and 160microinches. In order to achieve a better surface finish (e.g., a Ravalue between 30 and 60 microinches), a burnishing tool may be used withthe turning machine. However, finishes with an average surface roughnessof less than 30 microinches are typically not achievable on shafts orpipes machined with a journal turning lathe or clamshell lathe.

In one independent aspect, a honing assembly for use with a turningmachine to hone a workpiece may be provided. The honing assembly maygenerally include a housing and a honing stone supported by the housing.The honing stone is engageable with the workpiece to remove materialfrom and improve the surface finish of the workpiece. In someconstructions, the honing assembly includes multiple honing stonessupported by the housing. The honing stone may be pivotable relative tothe housing about a first axis and about a second axis normal to thefirst axis.

In another independent aspect, a honing assembly may generally include ahousing and a honing stone supported by the housing and threadedlyadjustable relative to the housing. In such a construction, a forceapplied by the honing stone on the workpiece may be adjusted by turninga threaded member. In some constructions, the honing assembly mayfurther include a biasing member to bias the honing stone toward theworkpiece.

In yet another independent aspect, a honing assembly may generallyinclude a housing and a honing stone removably supported by the housing.In such a construction, the removed honing stone may have a firstcoarseness and be replaced by a honing stone having a second coarseness.The honing stone may be supported by a bracket removably coupled to thehousing, for example, by a quick release pin. In another construction,the housing may be removably coupled to a housing of the turningmachine.

In a further independent aspect, a turning machine for performing anoperation on a workpiece may be provided. The turning machine maygenerally include a rotatable machine housing operable to rotate aroundthe workpiece, and a honing attachment supported by the machine housingand including a honing stone operable to engage the workpiece to removematerial. In some constructions, the honing attachment may be removedfrom the machine housing and replaced with another tool, such as asanding attachment, a machining tool, a cutting tool, a burnishing tool,etc.

In another independent aspect, a method of finishing a workpiece with ahoning stone may be provided. The method may generally include providinga turning machine including a rotatable machine housing, providing ahoning assembly including a housing and a honing stone supported by thehousing, supporting the honing assembly on the machine housing, engagingthe honing stone against an outer surface of the workpiece, and rotatingthe machine housing and the honing assembly relative to the workpiece toremove material from the workpiece.

In yet another independent aspect, a sanding assembly for use with aturning machine to sand a workpiece may be provided. The sandingassembly may generally include a housing, a flexible band supported bythe housing, and sand paper supported by the housing, the sand paperbeing engageable with the workpiece to remove material from and improvethe surface finish of the workpiece.

The housing may have opposite free ends, each free end supporting an endof the band and an end of the sand paper. The housing may include afirst housing portion having an internal end pivotally connected to aninternal end of a second housing portion. The flexible band may includea metal band. The flexible band may flex to match a diameter of theworkpiece.

In a further independent aspect, a turning machine for performing anoperation on a workpiece may be provided. The turning machine maygenerally include a rotatable machine housing operable to rotate aroundthe workpiece, and a sanding attachment supported by the machine housingand including a flexible band supporting sand paper, the sand paperbeing engageable with the workpiece to remove material. In someconstructions, the sanding attachment may be removed from the machinehousing and replaced with another tool, such as a honing attachment, amachining tool, a cutting tool, a burnishing tool, etc.

In another independent aspect, a method of finishing a workpiece withsand paper may be provided. The method may generally include providing aturning machine including a rotatable machine housing, providing asanding assembly including a housing, a flexible band supported by thehousing, and sand paper supported by the band, supporting the sandingassembly on the machine housing, engaging the sand paper against anouter surface of the workpiece, and rotating the machine housing and thesanding assembly relative to the workpiece to remove material from theworkpiece.

Other independent features and independent aspects of the invention maybecome apparent by consideration of the following detailed descriptionand accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a turning machine, such as ajournal turning lathe mounted on a workpiece, with a honing attachmentassembly mounted to the machine by a tool block.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the honing attachment assembly shown inFIG. 1 and an auxiliary honing stone subassembly.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the honing attachment assemblyand the auxiliary honing stone subassembly shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the honing attachment assembly and thetool block shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the honing attachment assembly mountedwithin the tool block shown in FIG. 1 showing an interior of a housingof the honing attachment assembly.

FIGS. 6-7 illustrate a shaft with various surface finishes resultingfrom different operations.

FIG. 8 illustrates a shaft with surface finish readings (Ra) afterhoning with 320 grit stones.

FIG. 9 illustrates a turning machine for use with the honing attachmentassembly.

FIG. 10 is a photograph of a tuning machine with a sanding assembly.

FIG. 11 is a photograph of the sanding assembly shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a photograph of different types of sand paper used in thesanding assembly shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of a sanding assembly.

FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of the sanding assembly shown in FIG.13.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of a portion of the sanding assembly shownin FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of another portion of the sanding assemblyshown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a front view of the sanding assembly shown in FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any independent embodiments of the invention are explained indetail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement ofcomponents set forth in the following description or illustrated in thefollowing drawings. The invention is capable of other independentembodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in variousways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyused herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regardedas limiting.

Use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof as usedherein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalentsthereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limitedotherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled”and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct andindirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings.

A surface finishing assembly, such as a honing attachment assembly 10,is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. The honing attachment assembly 10 is usedwith a portable turning machine 14, such as a journal turning lathe (seeFIG. 1; see also FIG. 9), to work on an outer surface finish of aworkpiece 18 (e.g., a pipe or shaft).

With reference to FIGS. 2-3, the assembly 10 includes a holder orhousing 22 defining a bore 26 extending along a longitudinal axis A. Thebore 26 receives (see FIGS. 3 and 5) a shaft or elongated member 30, abiasing member, such as a compression spring 34, and an adjustment cap38.

The elongated member 30 has a first end 42 with a square shoulder 46 anda seating surface 50 and a second end 54 defining a quick-release pinreceiving aperture 58. The shoulder 46 is complementary to a squareportion 62 (see FIG. 5) of the bore 26 to orient and prevent theelongated member 30 from rotating relative to the housing 22. In otherconstructions (not shown), the shoulder 46 and the bore portion 62 mayhave another shape to orient and/or prevent rotation of the elongatedmember 30 relative to the housing 22.

The adjustment cap 38 has exterior threads 66 to engage correspondinginterior threads 70 adjacent an upper end of the bore 26. The cap 38defines a drive portion 74, such as a hexagonal shaped aperture (asillustrated) to be engaged by a complementary shaped tool (e.g., a hexkey). In other constructions, the drive portion 74 may have anotherconfiguration, such as a slot, a protrusion, etc., engaged by a tool,such as a screwdriver, a wrench, etc.

As shown in FIG. 5, the compression spring 34 is positioned within thebore 26 between the seating surface 50 of the elongated member 30 andthe cap 38. The compression spring 34 biases the second end 54 of theelongated member 30 out of a lower end of the bore 26 opposite the cap38.

With reference to FIG. 2, the assembly 10 further includes a honingstone subassembly 82 with a swivel bracket 86 supporting a number of(e.g., two) honing stones 98. In other constructions (not shown), thesubassembly 82 may include a single honing stone 98 or more than twohoning stones 98.

The swivel bracket 86 has first and second portions 90, 94, eachdefining an axis B, C. The portions 90, 94 are angled relative to oneanother along the length of the swivel bracket 86 such that the axes B,C define a V-shape. In the illustrated construction, the angle betweenaxes B, C is relatively shallow (e.g., approximately 165 degrees). Theangle is generally less than 180 degrees and may be between 180 degreesand approximately 150 degrees or less.

The swivel bracket 86 has a top surface 102 and opposite side surfaces106 extending along the portions 90, 94. The top surface 102 defines anelongated recess 110 extending centrally between portions 90, 94 andreceiving the second end 54 of the elongated member 30. A quick-releasepin receiving bore 114 extends through the side surfaces 106 and theelongated recess 110. The bore 114 is positioned between the portions90, 94 and defines a swivel bracket pivot axis E transverse to andpassing through a point of intersection of the axes B, C.

Each portion 90, 94 of the swivel bracket 86 defines a channel 118 toreceive a honing stone 98. Each channel 118 extends through theassociated portion 90, 94 transverse to its axis B, C. A honing stone 98is received in each channel 118 oriented to extend perpendicular to theswivel bracket 86. In the illustrated embodiment, the elongated member30 is oriented by the square shoulder 46 such that the channels 118 and,thus, the honing stone(s) 98, are oriented parallel to a longitudinalaxis W of the workpiece 18 (FIG. 3).

Each portion 90, 94 of the swivel bracket 86 further defines a pinreceiving bore 122 defining a honing stone pivot axis F parallel to theaxis B, C of the associated portion 90, 94. Each honing stone 98 issupported by a honing stone bracket 130 defining a cotter pin receivingaperture 134. Each aperture 134 is aligned with the corresponding bore122 when the honing stone 98 is received in the channel 118 of theassociated portion 90, 94. Each aperture 134 and bore 122 receives acotter pin 138 to connect the honing stone 98 to the swivel bracket 86.

In the illustrated construction, each honing stone 98 is free toslightly pivot in the channel 18 about the axis F and about the cotterpin 138. Each honing stone 98 is removable for replacement by removingthe corresponding cotter pin 138. The honing stones 98 may be coupled(removably or non-removably; pivotably or non-pivotably) to the swivelbracket 86 by another suitable method, such as a bolt, a fastener,adhesive, etc.

The assembly 10 further includes a quick release pin 146. When thesecond end 54 of the elongated member 30 is received in the recess 110,the pin 146 may be axially inserted through the bore 114 in the swivelbracket 86 and the aperture 58 in the second end 54. For replacement,substitution, repair, etc., the pin 146 allows the first honing stonesubassembly 82 to be quickly disconnected from the elongated member 30and an auxiliary or second honing stone subassembly 82 a (see FIGS. 2-3)to be connected. The second subassembly may similarly be quicklyconnected to the elongated member 30 with minimal downtime.

With continued reference to FIGS. 2-3, the construction of theillustrated second subassembly 82 a is substantially similar to that ofthe first subassembly 82. The second subassembly 82 a has a number of(e.g., two) second honing stones 98 a. In some constructions, the secondhoning stones 98 a have substantially the same coarseness as the firsthoning stones 98 so that, for example, the first honing stones 98 can bequickly replaced if worn or damaged.

In other constructions, each first honing stone 98 and each secondhoning stone 98 a has a different coarseness (i.e., grit) to providedifferent material removal rates and surface finishes. For example, eachfirst honing stone 98 is 220 grit, and each second honing stone 98 a is320 grit. The honing stones 98, 98 a may be standard honing stonesreadily available and/or purchasable.

FIG. 1 illustrates the machine 14 mounted on a large diametercylindrical workpiece 18 (e.g., a pipe or shaft). The illustratedmachine 14 includes a clamshell assembly 154 supported by linear guideshafts 158 extending between a pair of support rings 162. Each of theclamshell assembly 154 and the support rings 162 is ring-shaped with acentral opening sized to receive the workpiece 18. Each support ring 162is supported on the workpiece 18 by centering bolts 166 threaded throughcorresponding threaded bores 170 defined in and radially extendingtoward a center of the opening of the support ring 162. The bolts 166may be adjusted to center the longitudinal axis W of the workpiece 18 inthe opening of the support rings 162 and of the clamshell assembly 154.

The clamshell assembly 154 includes a stationary ring 178, a movablering gear (not shown), and a protective shroud 182 covering the movablering gear. The stationary ring 178 has bosses 186 with linear bearings190 configured to receive one guide shaft 158 to support the clamshellassembly 154. The bearings 190 allow for linear travel of the clamshellassembly 154 along the guide shafts 158 (i.e., parallel to thelongitudinal axis W of the workpiece 18) relative to the support rings162. The clamshell assembly 154 is driven by a linear feed screw 194supported by the support rings 162 for movement parallel to thelongitudinal axis W of the workpiece 18.

The movable ring gear is supported on the stationary ring 178 forrotation about a center of the opening of and relative to the stationaryring 178. The movable ring gear is driven for rotation about theworkpiece 18 by a drive assembly (not shown) including a motor (notshown). A tool mounting assembly 202 is connected to the movable ringgear for rotation with the movable ring gear about the center of theclamshell assembly 154.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, the mounting assembly 202 includes asupport block 206, a tool block 210, and a radial feed screw 214. Thesupport block 206 is fixedly connected to the movable ring gear (FIG. 1)for rotation with the movable ring gear. The tool mounting assembly 202is configured to mount various tools, such as a cutting tool, aburnishing tool, the honing attachment assembly 10, etc.

To mount the assembly, the housing 22 is clamped between two halves ofthe tool block 210 by set screws 218. The assembly 10 is oriented withthe honing stones 98 adjacent the workpiece 18. The tool block 210 issupported by the support block 206 to allow the tool block 210 to sliderelative to the support block 206 radially toward or away from thecenter of the clamshell assembly 154. Turning the radial feed screw 214moves the tool block 210 radially relative to the support block 206.

Although not shown, in some constructions, another tool mountingassembly is attached to the movable gear ring circumferentially spaced(e.g., 180 degrees) from the first mounting assembly 202. The secondmounting assembly may support another honing attachment assembly similarto the assembly 10 described above and shown in FIGS. 2-3. The honingstones 98 of these attachment assemblies 10 may have the samecoarseness. In other constructions, the honing stones 98 may havedifferent coarseness.

In the illustrated construction (see FIG. 1), the workpiece 18 has adiameter of approximately 17 inches and the machine 14 is a journalturning lathe Model No. MS-JTL 20 sold by Hydratight. However, thehoning attachment assembly 10 may be secured to a mounting assemblyattached to another type of machine, such as a portable clamshell latheor similar machines of different sizes. In addition, while a workpiece18 having a diameter of 17 inches is shown in the illustratedconstruction, the assembly 10 may be used with workpieces of variousdifferent diameters and lengths.

During operation of the machine 14, the workpiece 18 is first supportedby the support rings 162 of the machine 14. The longitudinal axis W ofthe workpiece 18 is centered by adjusting the centering bolts 166 untilthe longitudinal axis W passes through the center of each support ring162 and the clamshell assembly 154. The machine 14 may be used tomachine (e.g., cut, bevel, otherwise machine, etc.) the workpiece 18(i.e., the shaft) by a machining tool (not shown) mounted by themounting assembly 202 via rotation of the movable gear ring about theworkpiece 18. Alternatively, the machining operation may be omitted ormay have been performed previously. As a further alternative, anintermediate operation, such as burnishing, may be performed after themachining operation.

As mentioned above, machining processes typically results in anundesirable surface finish (e.g., Ra value between 80 and 160microinches) while burnishing may improve the surface finish to between30 and 60 microinches. To further finish the surface of the workpiece,the honing attachment assembly 10 may be used with the machine 14.

The machine tool, if previously-used, is disconnected from the toolmounting assembly 202, and the tool block 210 supporting the honingattachment assembly 10 is connected to machine 14 by clamping thehousing 22 in the tool block 210. The tool block 210 is then connectedto the support block 206 of the mounting assembly 202 or may have beenconnected before attaching the assembly 10.

Assembly and operation of a single honing attachment assembly 10 will bedescribed. However, it should be understood that additional honingattachment assemblies 10 will be assembled and operated in the same way.

Once the honing attachment assembly 10 is attached to machine 14, thetool block 210 and the attachment assembly 10 are fed radially towardthe outer surface of the workpiece 18 by turning the feed screw 214until the honing stone(s) 98 contact the outer surface of the workpiece18 and the spring 34 is compressed.

The spring 34 provides a biasing force acting on the seating surface 50of the elongated member 30, which causes the honing stone(s) 98 to bebiased into contact with the outer surface of the workpiece 18. Thespring 34 is compressed by an amount that determines how much force thehoning stone(s) 98 exert on the workpiece 18. Construction of the swivelbracket 86 equally distributes the force between each honing stone 98.

The operator turns the adjustment cap 38 in either a clockwise orcounterclockwise direction with a tool engaging the drive portion 74.Due to the threaded engagement of the cap 38 in the bore 26, turning theadjustment cap 38 (depending on the direction) either loads or unloadsthe spring 34 to increase or decrease the force the spring 34 applies tothe seating surface 50 of the elongated member 30, thereby increasing ordecreasing the force the honing stone(s) 98 apply to the outer surfaceof the workpiece 18.

The cap 38 may be initially adjusted to compress the spring 34 into afirst condition to be pre-loaded by a specific amount such that thehoning stone(s) 98 apply a first force to the workpiece. Power issupplied to the machine 14 to rotate the movable gear ring and theassembly 10 about the longitudinal axis W of the workpiece 18. As thehoning stone(s) 98 rotate, contact between the honing stone(s) 98 andthe outer surface of the workpiece 18 removes material and improves thesurface finish of the workpiece 18 with each pass.

The honing stone(s) 98 are rotated until the average surface roughnessreaches a threshold value based on the coarseness of the honing stone(s)98 and the first force. After reaching the threshold or after apredetermined number of rotations, the clamshell assembly 154, with thehoning attachment assembly 10, is fed axially along the longitudinalaxis W via rotation of the linear feed screw 194 to hone a length of theworkpiece 18 between the support rings 162.

After the threshold value of the average surface roughness of the outersurface is reached or after a certain number of passes, rotation andtravel of the tool block 210 is stopped to allow the operator to turnthe adjustment cap 38 to compress the spring 34 to a second condition,thereby increasing the force that the spring 34 applies on the swivelbracket 86. The force that the honing stone(s) 98 apply to the outersurface of the workpiece 18 is increased to a second force.

After the force is increased, rotation and travel of the tool block 210is resumed so that the honing stone(s) 98 continue honing the outersurface of workpiece 18. These steps are repeated, slowly increasing theforce that the honing stone(s) 98 apply to the outer surface of theworkpiece 18 by turning the adjustment cap 38 to compress the spring 34until a desired surface finish is achieved with the first honingstone(s) 98. Typically, this is a maximum achievable surface finish withthe first honing stone(s) 98. Applying too much force initially can wearout the workpiece 18 or deflect the machine 14.

Once a desired surface finish is achieved with the first honing stone(s)98, the first honing stone(s) 98 can be quickly substituted with thesecond honing stone(s) 98 a to further improve the surface finish. Tosubstitute the first honing stones 98, the quick release pin 146 isremoved, allowing the first subassembly 82 including the first honingstone(s) 98 to then be removed.

The second subassembly 82 a with the second honing stone(s) 98 a maythen be connected to the elongated member 30. Specifically, the secondsubassembly 82 a is positioned such that the second end 54 of theelongated member 30 is received in the elongated recess 110 a of theswivel bracket 86 a and the bore 114 a and the aperture 58 are aligned.The quick release pin 146 is then inserted to connect the secondsubassembly 82 a.

With the second subassembly 82 a connected, substantially the sameoperation as described above is repeated until a desired surface finish(with a further improved average surface roughness) is achieved or athreshold value is reached based on the coarseness of the second honingstones 98 a. Typically, this is a maximum achievable surface finish withthe second honing stone(s) 98 a. If necessary, another honing stoneassembly (not shown) may be used to still further improve the averagesurface roughness of the outer surface of the workpiece.

In the illustrated construction, the swivel bracket 86 is free to pivotabout the swivel bracket pivot axis E relative to the elongated member30 on the pin 146. In addition, each honing stone 98 is free to pivotabout the corresponding honing stone pivot axis F relative to the swivelbracket 86. Due to the pivot axes E, F, the multi-stone design, and theshape of the swivel bracket 86, the honing stone(s) 98 follow theprofile of the outer surface of the workpiece 18 both axially andradially.

With reference to FIGS. 6-8, the honing attachment assembly 10 mayproduce surface finishes with an average surface roughness between 8 and32 microinches. The average surface roughness may be achieved withinthis range by increasing the number of passes while incrementallyincreasing the force and the number of honing block changes from coarserto finer honing stone(s). The assembly 10 may provide significantimprovement in surface finish compared to the surface finish producedusing machining tools or other surface finishing tools, such asburnishing tools.

After repeated or prolonged use, the honing stone(s) 98 may become wornor damaged. Once significant wear or damage has occurred, the honingstone(s) 98 may be replaced. The honing stone(s) 98 may be replaced byreplacing the entire subassembly 82 as described above. Alternatively oradditionally, each honing stone 98 of the subassembly 82 may beindividually replaced by removing the corresponding cotter pins 138 toallow the honing stones 98 to be removed from the associated channel118. A replacement honing stone (not shown) can then be inserted intothe channel 118. The cotter pin 138 can then be reinserted through thebore 122 of the swivel bracket 86 and the aperture of the replacementhoning stone to pivotably secure the replacement honing stone within thechannel 118.

In general, a honing attachment assembly 10 for use with a turningmachine 14 may include a housing 22 supporting a honing stone 98operable to engage a workpiece 18 to remove material. The housing 22 ofthe honing attachment 10 may support multiple honing stones 98. Thehoning stone 98 may be pivotable relative to the housing about a firstpivot axis E and a second pivot axis F normal to the first pivot axis E.The honing stone 98 may be supported for threading adjustment relativeto the housing 22.

Another surface finishing assembly, such as a sanding attachmentassembly 310, is illustrated in FIGS. 10-17. The sanding attachmentassembly 310 is used with the portable turning machine 14, such as ajournal turning lathe (see FIG. 10; see also FIGS. 1 and 9), to work onan outer surface finish of a workpiece 18 (e.g., a pipe or shaft). Theassembly 210 is similar to the assembly shown in FIGS. 1-5 and commonelements have the same reference number plus “300”.

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 13-17, the assembly 310 includes a holderor housing 322 defining a bore (not shown) extending along alongitudinal axis A. The bore receives a shaft or elongated member 330,a biasing member, such as a compression spring (not shown), and anadjustment cap 338.

The elongated member 330 has an end 354 defining a pin receivingaperture (not shown). The opposite end of the elongated member 330 isconfigured to orient and prevent the elongated member 330 from rotatingrelative to the housing 322.

The adjustment cap 338 and the housing 322 having complementary threads(not shown). The cap 338 defines a drive portion 374, such as ahexagonal shaped aperture (as illustrated), a slot, a protrusion, etc.,to be engaged by a complementary shaped tool (e.g., a hex key, ascrewdriver, a wrench, etc.). The compression spring is positionedwithin the bore between a seating surface of the elongated member 330and the cap 338. The compression spring biases the second end 354 of theelongated member 330 out of a lower end of the bore opposite the cap338.

With reference to FIGS. 13-17, the assembly 310 further includes ahousing assembly 520 supported on the end 354 of the elongated member330, a flexible band 524 supported on the housing assembly 520, and sandpaper 528 (shown in FIGS. 10-12) supported by the band 524 (and thehousing assembly 520).

The housing assembly 520 includes housing portions 532 a, 532 bpivotably connected to the end 354 by a pivot member 536 (e.g., aquick-release pin (see FIG. 10)) to form a pivot joint. Each housingportion 532 has a free end 540 and a curved portion 544 between each end540 and the pivot member 536. Each free end 540 supports a connectingassembly 548.

The illustrated flexible band 524 includes a thin metal band havingopposite ends 552. Likewise, the sand paper 528 has opposite ends 556and a selected surface finishing characteristic (e.g., a grit) for thefinish to be achieved.

As shown in FIGS. 10-11, each connecting assembly 540 receives andreleasably retains an end 552, 556 of the band 524 and the sand paper528, respectively. The connecting assembly 540 includes a first block560, a second block 564 and a fastener 568 engaging the blocks 560, 564and the end 540 of the housing portion 532. Each end 552 of the band 524is held between the first block 560 and the end 540 of the housingportion 532. Each end 556 of the sand paper 528 is held between theblocks 560, 564. The connecting assembly 540 applies a clamping force tothe band 524 and to the sand paper 528. The fastener 564 and otherprojecting members (not shown) provide positive engagement between theconnecting assembly 540 and the band 524 and the sand paper 528.

The band 524 is flexible to match the diameter of a workpiece 18 (e.g.,a shaft) having a diameter between, for example, 6 inches and 32 inches.In other constructions (not shown), the sanding assembly 310 may beengageable with workpieces of different sizes.

In the illustrated construction, the housing portions 532 areconstructed to match the sanding assembly 310 to the workpiece 18. Thehousing portions 532 have a length of, for example, 4 inches, toaccommodate the size of the workpiece 18. The illustrated curvedportions 544 extends about an arc of approximately 135° and have acontinuous radius of curvature of, for example, 1 inch, again toaccommodate the size of the workpiece 18. In other constructions (notshown), the housing portions 532 and/or the curved portions 544 may havedifferent constructions for different workpieces.

The assembly and operation of the sanding assembly 310 is similar tothat described above with respect to the honing assembly 10. As shown inFIG. 10, the sanding assembly 310, with sand paper 528 having thedesired grit, is supported on the tool mounting assembly 202, and theturning machine 14 is operated to achieve the desired surface finish.During operation, the sand paper 528 may be replaced if, for example,damaged, worn, a different grit is desired, etc.

The sanding assembly 310 may be substituted for a honing attachment, amachining tool, a cutting tool, a burnishing tool, etc., in the turningtool 14. In contrast to a honing assembly, the sanding assembly 310 doesnot require honing oil.

In general, a sanding attachment assembly 310 for use with a turningmachine 14 may include a housing 322 supporting sand paper 528 (asillustrated, through a housing assembly 520 and a flexible band 524)operable to engage a workpiece 18 to remove material. The housingassembly 520, along with the band 524 and the sand paper 528, may bepivotable relative to the housing 322 about a pivot axis E. The housingassembly 520, along with the band 524 and the sand paper 528, may besupported for threading adjustment relative to the housing 322.

Although illustrated in connection with the machine 14, such as ajournal turning lathe, the surface finishing assembly 10, 210 may beused with other turning machines, such as clamshell lathes, or differentsized turning machines.

One or more independent features and/or independent advantages of theinvention may be set forth in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A honing assembly for use with a turning machineto hone a workpiece, the honing assembly comprising: a housing; and ahoning stone supported by the housing, the honing stone being engageablewith the workpiece to remove material from the workpiece.
 2. The honingassembly of claim 1, wherein the honing stone is a first honing stone,and wherein the honing assembly further comprises a second honing stonesupported by the housing, the second honing stone being engageable withthe workpiece to remove material from the workpiece.
 3. The honingassembly of claim 2, wherein the workpiece extends along an axis, andwherein the first honing stone and the second honing stone are supportedon opposite sides of the axis.
 4. The honing assembly of claim 1,wherein the honing stone is pivotable relative to the housing about afirst axis and about a second axis normal to the first axis.
 5. Thehoning assembly of claim 1, wherein the honing stone is supported formovement in a direction transverse to the workpiece.
 6. The honingassembly of claim 5, wherein the honing stone is threadedly adjustablerelative to the housing.
 7. The honing assembly of claim 6, wherein aforce applied by the honing stone on the workpiece may be adjusted byturning a threaded member.
 8. The honing assembly of claim 1, furthercomprising a biasing member to bias the honing stone toward theworkpiece.
 9. The honing assembly of claim 1, wherein the honing stoneis removably supported by the housing.
 10. The honing assembly of claim9, wherein the honing stone is a first honing stone having a firstcoarseness, and wherein the honing assembly further comprises a secondhoning stone having a second coarseness different than the firstcoarseness, the first honing stone and the second honing stone beingsubstitutable.
 11. The honing assembly of claim 9, further comprising abracket operable to support the honing stone, the bracket beingremovably coupled to the housing.
 12. The honing assembly of claim 11,wherein the housing is removably coupled to a housing of the turningmachine.
 13. A sanding assembly for use with a turning machine to sand aworkpiece, the sanding assembly comprising: a housing; a flexible bandsupported by the housing; and sand paper supported by the housing, thesand paper being engageable with the workpiece to remove material fromthe workpiece.
 14. The sanding assembly of claim 13, wherein the housinghas opposite free ends, each free end supporting an end of the band andan end of the sand paper.
 15. The sanding assembly of claim 14, whereinthe housing includes a first housing portion having a first internal endand a second housing portion having a second internal end, the firstinternal end and the second internal end being pivotally connected. 16.The sanding assembly of claim 13, wherein the flexible band includes ametal band.
 17. The sanding assembly of claim 13, wherein the flexibleband is operable to flex to match a diameter of the workpiece.
 18. Aturning machine for performing an operation on a workpiece, the turningmachine comprising: a rotatable machine housing operable to rotatearound the workpiece; a first attachment including a first portionengageable with and operable to remove material from a workpiece, thefirst attachment having a first configuration; and a second attachmentincluding a second portion engageable with and operable to removematerial from a workpiece, the second attachment having a secondconfiguration different than the first configuration, each of the firstattachment and the second attachment being selectively supportable oneat a time by the machine housing to operate on a workpiece.
 19. Theturning machine of claim 18, wherein the first attachment includes ahoning attachment supported by the machine housing and including ahoning stone operable to engage the workpiece to remove material. 20.The turning machine of claim 18, wherein the second attachment includesa sanding attachment supported by the machine housing and including aflexible band supporting sand paper, the sand paper being engageablewith the workpiece to remove material.